"We're glad the national media has learned what we've always known to be true about Johnson County; that we have a very affordable, high quality of life," Maslowski said in an email.

Living expenses are affordable because Johnson County governments have been reluctant to raise taxes, Maslowski said.

"Our local schools and cities tightened their belts to live within the confines of the new economy without raising new tax revenue," Maslowski said. "While this cannot be possible indefinitely, in the interim it certainly raised our statistical profile to the point we are now beating the national averages for affordability and quality of life."

Greenwood City Council Member Thom Hord said the aversion to tax hikes also hurts the county.